Sonography in the diagnosis and management of hydrops of the gallbladder in children with mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.

Acute hydrops of the gallbladder is described in four patients who had mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. Diagnosis was readily made with gray-scale ultrasound, and the patients were followed with this technique. The gallbladder returned to normal size in all of the patients within 15 days, and none of the patients needed surgery. The role of surgery in acute hydrops of the gallbladder is for the complications of the hydrops and not for distention alone.